Cuba against West’s anti-Russian sanctions, says top official

June 11, 2015, 8:11 UTC+3HAVANANATO’s expansion towards the borders of the Russian Federation carries a serious threat for international peace, security and stability, as well as for Europe itself, the Cuban official said

HAVANA, June 11. /TASS/. Cuba is opposed to sanctions imposed against Russia over Ukraine, First Vice President of the Council of State of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez said in Brussels on Wednesday.

"We once again state our rejection of sanctions against this country," he said at an EU-CELAC summit, bringing together European, Latin American and Caribbean leaders. "We warned from the very beginning that NATO’s expansion towards the borders of the Russian Federation carries a serious threat for international peace, security and stability, as well as for Europe itself," the Cuban official said.

In his speech, posted on the website of the Cuban Foreign Ministry, the head of the Cuban delegation also focused on the establishment of diplomatic relations with the US. "Despite an historic decision of Cuba and the United States to restore diplomatic relations, economic, trade and financial blockade against Cuba continues," he said.

As for the necessary terms to mend ties, he said the US should stop "unfair policy" and return "the illegally occupied territory" of the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base," scrap radio and TV broadcasts that violate rules of international law, compensate to our people for moral and material damage, as well as give up on sabotage programs".

Focusing on prospects for the existence of the humankind, the Cuban official noted the importance of joint effort against climate changes. "In order to survive, it is necessary to stop climate changes through the signing of a legally binding, ambitious, fair and equal agreement that would guarantee financing, technologies and cooperation to mitigate and adapt (climatic changes) on the basis of common responsibility," he said.

Miguel Diaz-Canel also highlighted the problem of migration that has worsened of late. "Growing threats to international peace and security, non-traditional [methods of waging] wars and poverty that devastate nations and destroy states, push waves of desperate people towards seeking refuge" in other countries, he said.

The second EU-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) summit is held in Brussels under the theme "Shaping our common future: working for prosperous, cohesive and sustainable societies for our citizens". The main aim of the summits is to strengthen relations between the two regions.